Service signal light



Sept. 20, 1966 J. B. QUINN 3,274,369

SERVICE SIGNAL LIGHT Filed NOV. 12, 1964 Fl G5 PATRON JOHN B. QUINN INVENTOR.

BY r 5H ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,274,369 SERVIQE SIGNAL LIGHT John 3. Quinn, 450 N. Rossinore Ave, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Nov. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 412,279 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-467) This invention relates to service signals and more particularly to a service light adapted to be lighted when a patron desires service; and which includes a directionally beamed light signal directed toward the server, and a dim signal light indicating to the patron that the light is lighted.

More particularly, this invention is directed to a service signal which is adapted to be ,imbedded in a counter, or other service area, and which includes a mounting casing, a light connected to an on/off switch, an operating button for the switch, which is formed of light-emitting material and of variable translucency to direct a light beam toward the server and a glowing section visible to the patron.

An object of this invention is to provide a service signal, which when actuated by a patron indicates to the patron the fact of its actuation and at the same time directs a beam of more intense light toward the server to attract the servers attention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a service signal, including a lamp, in an electric circuit, in which circuit there is an on/off switch, the actuating button for which is a light-distributing or diffusing means, and which button when moved to an on position completes the electric circuit and when moved again interrupts the said circuit.

Another object of this invention is to produce a servicesignal device which may be mounted in a counter, bar top, or other service area in such manner as to provide a minimum of obstruction to such service area and which will provide a directional light beam and which is so constructed and mounted that its circuitry and operating parts are protected from water or other liquids.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the hereinafter set forth description of a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, and illustrated as mounted in a fragment of a service area, such as a bar, of a signal device embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a section plan view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the service button of a modified type, which is rotational to indicated position to on and off position.

FIGURE 4 is a section plan view similar to FIGURE 2 of the rotational button modification of FIGURE 3.

In the embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2, the top of the service area, whether bar, counter, table, or the like, is indicated at I. In this service area, preferred at a point removed from the area where the patron receives service, a hole 2 is formed. In this hole there is mounted a sleeve 3, which may be of any suitable material, such as a metal, plastic, or the like, and it is supported by a flange 4 from the service area top and is provided with one or more inwardly turned support legs 5 spaced downwardly from the service area top.

Supported within the sleeve is a casing 6 preferably of electrical insulating material, which has extended from its side spaced and interrupted flanges 7 to receive the lug of lugs 5, by which it is removably supported within the sleeve 3.

Mounted within the casing 6 is a switch mechanism 8, which is of any suitable and well known construction,

and provides an on position and an off position, and which switch may be actuated to either of said positions by movement of a single button 9.

Suitably supported within the enclosure formed by the button 9 and casing 6 is a lamp bulb 10, the electrical circuit to which includes the switch 8 and leads to any suitable source of electrical power as well understood in this art, so that the same is not shown in the drawings.

The button 9 has a skirt 11, which is a sliding fit on the surface of the casing 6 and extends into the space between the casing 6 and sleeve 3 in fluid tight relation therewith, so that any fluid passing into the sleeve 3 from the service area 1 will not pass into the casing 6. The flange 5 may be interrupted .or perforated, as indicated at 12, to permit any fluid passing into the sleeve to drain therefrom.

In the modification of this invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2, the bulb 10 is supported within a cylindrical annulus 13 formed in the button 9, upon a base 14 suitably fitted Within the annulus 13, and the base 14 provides contact means 15 and 16 for the bulb base 17 and central contact 18.

The end of the base 14 is closed at its lower end by a recessed plug 18a, within the recess 19 of which a spring 20 is positioned. The opposite end of the spring 20 is supported by the contact plate 21 of the switch 8. Within the recess 19 is a switch contact rod 22 having a head 23 electrically connected to the contact 16.

The rod 22 provides the switch actuating means to engage a switch toggle 24 to actuate the same to circuit closing or opening position on depression of the button 9. As here illustrated, the on/ofi switch 8 is of a well known toggle type, the toggle 24 of which is pivotally mounted on a pin 25 and urged to on and off position by a spring 26. The switch 8 may, however, be of any suitable construction, which may be actuated to on and off positions on successive movements of the button 9.

The button 9 is preferably formed of a translucent or light-transmitting material such as plastic, and is so formed as to have areas of different light transmitting intensity. For example, the button 9 may be cylindrical at its upper section and formed so that at the semicylindrical portion from the patron, it will emit a beam of light directionally for so that the server may observe the light from any position within the 180 arc. The opposition semicylindrical portion of the button 9 may be of a greater degree of opacity, and even colored to emit only a light glow of suflicient intensity to permit the patron closely adjacent thereto to determine that he has actuated the signal and which fact may not be apparent to other patrons closely positioned to the first stated patron. The button 9 may be formed in any suitable manner to accomplish the above stated objects, one simple way being to vary the thickness of the button on the two semicylindrical portions thereof, or to increase the opacity of one side with suitable pigments or coloring matte t It will thus be apparent that the patron desiring service may at any time depress the button 9, when service is desired, and that the server on completion of the service may again depress the button 9 to interrupt the signal light.

In the modified form of this invention of FIGURE 3 and 4, the principal difference resides in the use of a rotary on/off switch, and in this case the bulb base 14 has on its periphery spaced contacts 15a, which when the button 9a is rotated engage a stationary contact 30 carried in the base 6 to complete the electrical circuit.

The button 9a in this case has an indicator 31, which is a positioning means for locating the button and, hence, the contacts 15a. The indicator 31 may be of any desired form. The button 9a may have on its surface any suitable indicating means, such as the word service, as indicated at 32, which when turned out of alignment will indicate the fact that the service signal has been actuated.

Having set forth a description of this invention, it is obvious that the same is subject to many modifications, all within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A service signal light adapted to be mounted within a service counter for providing light beams of different intensity at least two directions comprising elongated button means having a first end with a substantially central cavity therein, said first end having a plurality of areas with different light transmitting properties therethrough, said button means having a second end forming a skirt,

a light bulb mounted within said cavity and adjacent said first end of said button means for emitting light through said areas of said first end,

mounting means coupled within said button means for maintaining said light bulb within said cavity and having electrical contacts coupled with contacts of said bulb,

casing means, at least said second end of said button means being mounted substantially coaxially with respect to said casing means, and

switch means mounted in said casing means, said mounting means coupling said button means with said switch means to operate said switch means to on and off positions upon successive movements of said button means, and said contact means of said mounting means adapted to complete an energizing circuit to said bulb through said switch means.

2. A service signal light as in claim 1 wherein said first end of said button means is formed of a plastic material, said areas of said first end are segments of said first end which respectively have different thicknesses to provide angular light beams of respective different intensities from said first end when said light bulb is energized.

3. A service signal light as in claim 1 wherein said first end of said button means is formed of a plastic material, said areas of said first end are segments of said first end which respectively are differently colored to provide angular light beams of respective different intensities from said first end when said light bulb is energized.

4. A service signal light as in claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a toggle switch, and said mounting means is adapted to engage said toggle means to actuate said switch means to on and off positions upon successive depressions of said button means toward said switch means.

5. A service signal light as in claim 1 wherein said switch comprises contact means affixed to said casing means, with said contact means of said switch means being engageable by said electrical contacts of said mounting means upon rotation of said button means.

6. A service signal light as in claim 1 including sleeve means adapted to be secured within an aperture of a service counter, said sleeve means including support legs, said casing means including flange means for engaging said support legs and being coaxially mounted at least partially within said sleeve means, and

said second end of said button means being positioned within and adjacent said sleeve means to inhibit liquid within the sleeve means from entering said casing means.

7. A service signal light as in claim 6 wherein said first end of said button means is formed of a plastic material, said areas of said first end are segments of said first end which respectively have different thicknesses to provide angular light beams of respective different intensities from said first end when said light bulb is energized, and

said switch means is a toggle switch actuable by said mounting means upon successive depressions of said button means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1963 Blomquist et al 200167 6/1965 Lauren et a1 200-467 H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SERVICE SIGNAL LIGHT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED WITHIN A SERVICE COUNTER FOR PROVIDING LIGHT BEAMS OF DIFFERENT INTENSITY AT LEAST TWO DIRECTIONS COMPRISING ELONGATED BUTTON MEANS HAVING A FIRST END WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRAL CAVITY THEREIN, SAID FIRST END HAVING A PLURALITY OF AREAS WITH DIFFERENT LIGHT TRANSMITTING PROPERTIES THERETHROUGH, SAID BUTTON MEANS HAVING A SECOND END FORMING A SKIRT, A LIGHT BULB MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CAVITY AND ADJACENT SAID FIRST END OF SAID BUTTON MEANS FOR EMITTING LIGHT THROUGH SAID AREAS OF SAID FIRST END, MOUNTING MEANS COUPLED WITHIN SAID BUTTON MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID LIGHT BULB WITHIN SAID CAVITY AND HAVING ELECTRICAL CONTACTS COUPLED WITH CONTACTS OF SAID HUB, CASING MEANS, AT LEAST SAID SECOND END OF SAID BUTTON MEANS BEING MOUNTED SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID CASING MEANS, AND SWITCH MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID CASING MEANS, SAID MOUNTING MEANS COUPLING SAID BUTTON MEANS, SAID SAID SWITCH MEANS TO OPERATE SAID SWITCH MEANS TO "ON" AND "OFF" POSITIONS UPON SUCCESSIVE MOVEMENTS OF SAID BUTTON MEANS, AND SAID CONTACT MEANS OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS ADAPTED TO COMPLETE AN ENERGIZING CIRCUIT TO SAID HUB THROUGH SAID SWITCH MEANS. 